Nam Phuong

Since moving to South Philadelphia, which is known for its Vietnamese community and authentic food options, I’ve been determined to visit some of the area’s restaurants. I haven’t had many experiences with Vietnamese cuisine in the past, and I was eager to sample the fare.

I finally made time to visit Nam Phuong a few weeks ago; I selected this as my first foray based on Web reviews and rankings I read. I visited with my roommate, also a newbie to Vietnamese food, and we ordered based on recommendations from another friend. To start, we ordered the summer rolls with shrimp, pork and chicken. The soft texture of the wrapper was a bit too gushy for my liking. While probably not as healthy, I think I would opt for the fried spring rolls next time.

For our entrees, we shared the pho with slices of eye-round steak and the house special rice vermicelli with spring rolls, meatballs, charbroiled chicken and shrimp. I enjoyed both; the pho has a subtle sweetness to it, and the meat was tender. The combination of flavors in the vermicelli dish gave it dimension; the different blend of flavors made each bite unique.

Nam Phuong was a great choice for my first Vietnamese experience; I’m eager to return, and also to sample different dishes and different restaurants in my neighborhood.

Nam Phuong

1100-1120 Washington Ave.

Philadelphia, PA 19147

tel 215 468 0410